Patchwork: made with passion
(not perfection)
Mindful Making: the magic of the hexie…
Patchwork is one of my favourite textile crafts. I first wrote about it two years ago when teaching a class on English Paper Piecing (EPP). To this day, I always have a box of EPP hexagons (or “hexies”) on the go, ready to stitch whenever the notion takes me.
Basting and stitching these by hand is a deeply mindful, meditative practice. It’s a space where I have to consciously fight my controlling tendencies; while it’s not in my nature to be completely random, I do try to keep my approach loose and organic. It’s definitely about passion, not perfection.
From "Wee" Projects to a Small Miracle
Alongside the wee hexies, I usually have a larger quilt in progress. I started making quilts for my children when they were wee and haven’t stopped since. Usually, a quilt takes me years to finish, so completing my latest project in under a year felt like a small miracle!
It all began, as it often does, with a Kaffe Fassett pattern. I adore his vibrant fabrics and own quite a few of his books, but the “Shimmer Star” pattern from Quilts in Burano was the one that truly caught my eye.
The starting point for my latest project: Kaffe Fassett’s Quilts in Burano, filled with vibrant inspiration from the Venetian islands.
Rated as a three-star pattern “suitable for the more experienced quilter”, I first saw it more than a decade ago when I never could have dreamed of being able to make such a thing. At the time, it looked so complex I thought it must surely involve magical wizardry!
The daunting but beautiful "Shimmer Star" pattern. You can see my fabric swatch key on the right, helping me stay true to Marc's chosen palette of purples, blues, and greens.
Designing for Marc: A Palette of Blues and Purples
Having recently finished quilts for both Freya and Noah (and one for Noah’s girlfriend), it only felt fair that Freya’s fiancé, Marc, was next in line. I set about making the Shimmer Star specifically for him.
Marc defined the colour palette - a sophisticated mix of purples, blues and greens. I then created several mood boards with fabric samples to refine the vision.
The process of narrowing down the perfect combination. I created these mood boards to help Marc visualise how his chosen purples, blues, and greens would work together.
Marc was involved throughout, even switching out a few fabrics to ensure it was a perfect match. Although a gap between planning and purchasing meant I had to make a few substitutions, I stayed true to his original vision for the perfect colour combination.
The final contender: Design J. There is something so satisfying about seeing a curated palette finally come together before the first cut is even made.
The cutting begins!
The Maths of Diamonds: 776 Pieces and Counting
I had never worked with diamonds before, so I was a bit daunted. However, once I started cutting, my confidence grew. There were A LOT of pieces to manage - 776 diamonds if I counted correctly- along with various triangles and rectangles to complete the bigger blocks.
To create each large diamond block, I had to sew the smaller diamonds into long rows before stitching these rows together. It wasn’t until I began joining each section that I realised just how difficult it is to align diamonds edges and hit that perfect seam allowance! I even shared my struggles over on Instagram!
By the beginning of September, I finally found my flow and completed all the large diamond sections of the central star. Then, I had to start cutting again for the corner pieces and background fabric.
Piecing the Puzzle Together
Putting the full quilt together felt like solving a giant textile puzzle! It’s built in four separate quarters, each made up of two large diamonds, a corner block, and two large triangles. For the corner blocks, I had to piece together a small central star surrounded by squares and triangles. Once those formed a perfect square, I attached the final borders to bring it all together.
A "Star" is Born: Completing the Quilt Top
Piece by piece, it all came together until, finally, the quilt top was complete. I always feel such a massive sense of accomplishment at this stage - at least until I remember that I still have to quilt and bind the whole thing!
400 Pins and a Lot of Patience
I always choose cotton batting over polyester - after all, why would you want to wrap yourself in plastic? To keep things fully natural for this project I also chose 100% cotton for the backing fabric, and even the quilting thread.
Preparation is key for a project this size. I actually had to stock up on curved safety pins because I didn't have nearly enough! I ended up using all 400 pins to keep the quilt layers perfectly intact before I began the slow, meditative process of quilting it by hand.
Underestimating the "Slow" in Slow Craft
I had originally hoped to finish the quilt for Christmas so I could gift it to Marc then. Since he was abroad over the holidays and I knew I wouldn’t see him until the first week of January, I gave myself a little extension. However, I totally underestimated just how long the final stage would take! Stitching in the ditch around every single piece of fabric, as well as adding grid lines to the larger sections, proved to be a mammoth task that required every bit of that extra time.
The Hand-Over: A Warm Welcome to the Family
Finally, the day arrived, just one month after the Christmas deadline. After 776 diamonds, a sea of curved safety pins, and countless hours of "stitching in the ditch," the Shimmer Star was ready for its new home.
There is a unique kind of magic in handing over a handmade gift, especially one that has been so lovingly and carefully curated. Watching Marc immediately wrap himself in the fabrics he’d picked almost a year ago made every late night worth it. It’s no longer just a pile of fabric and batting—it’s a warm welcome into the family, a true heirloom piece.
The Shimmer Star in its new home! A labor of love and a perfect example of why slow craft is so rewarding.
This quilt was made with passion, not necessarily perfection, and I hope it becomes a much-loved, well-worn staple in their home for decades to come.
Now that this quilt is finally being enjoyed by Marc (and Freya!), I might just take a week (or two!) off before I dive back into my box of hexies. Then again, there’s that next Kaffe Fassett pattern calling my name...